Permutation device for a latch of a lock



j 28, 1958 P. J. J. rl-:RCE

PERMUTATIN DEVICE FOR A LATCH 0F A LOCK 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1954 lllll.

Jan. 28, 1958 P. J. J. TERC 2,821,077

PERMUTATION DEVICE FOR A LATCH OF A LOCK Filed March 50, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi c. 2.

Jam. 28, 1958 P. .3. J. TRCE 253%077 PERWJTATICN DEVICE FOR A LATCH oF A LOCK y A. sheets-sheet 5 Filed March 30, 1954 jan., 28, 1958 P. J. J. TERCE PERwJTATIoN DEVICE FOR A LATCH oF A Locx Filed March 30, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent PERMUTATION DEVICE FOR A LATCH F A LOCK Paul Joseph Jean Terc, Paris, France Application March 30, 1954, Serial No. 419,823 Claims priority, application France March 13, 1954 4 Claims. (Cl. 711-309) The present invention relates to a dial combination device for a lock or a bolt.

The device is intended to be placed in front of the key entrance of a lock or a bolt. The key is able to freely pass through this device only after a number of operations by which the user brings in succession, in front of an index, the numerals of the dial constituting the combination, which he is the only one to know.

The device is characterized in that it includes on the path of the key towards the lock, a number of movable discs, each of which is provided with an aperture, the position of which can be adjusted and that the key is provided with controlling elements which in the successive positions of insertion of the key, control in each position thereof, simultaneously one of the discs and the dial.

ln each of its successive positions of insertion, the key is operated so as to position the dial at the numeral corresponding to the combination, and brings thereby the aperture of one disc in its operative position. When all discs have been successively placed in their operative positions, the key can reach freely the latch or the boltthis latch or bolt being of any given type-and can work said latch or bolt according to its particular dispositions.

The device according to the invention is further characterized in that it includes a set of apertured discs of different diameters and coaxially disposed with respect to the stem of the key and a slidable disc carrying a number of fingers equal to the number of discs and capable of being pushed by the key, at the end of its strokes, towards the set of discs.

By way of example, one form of embodiment is described hereafter and illustrated in the annexed drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an axial section.

Figure 2 is the same section as that of Figure 1, some elements being omitted.

Figure 3 is a perspective exploded View only of some of the inner elements.

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections along lines IV-IV and V-V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a front view of one of the apertured discs.

Figure 7 is a cross section along line Vll--VII of Figure 6.

The lock according to the invention comprises a casing 101, lodged, for instance, in the thickness of a door 102, in front of a latch 103 of any type, movable in a housing 103' fixed on the door, to the left hand of the figure, said latch being operable by means of the hooked inner end 106A of an operating rod 106.

The casing is closed at its front end by a scale disc 104 rotatably supported therein and at its rear end by a cover 105. The operating rod or key 106 carries a radial abutment or rib 107, cooperating with two coaxial rotatable discs 108 and 109 preferably of diferent diameters, each disc being provided With an aperture, such as a peripheral hole and being capable of radial adjustltuent, as it will be explained hereafter.

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In a more detailed way, the device is as follows:

At the rear of the casing is located an assembly of four annular members made integral together by means of bolts 110, namely:

(l) Two annular retaining elements, one of which, the annular retaining element 111, is provided with an inwardly extending ange 112 and defines with the lid 105 -a space for freely mounting therein the large adjustable disc 109, while the other annular retaining element, 113, which is channel-shaped in cross section, has an inwardly extending flange 114 defining with the annular retaining element 111, a space for freely mounting therein the small adjustable disc 108.

(2) A thin walled tubular spacing member 115 and (3) A large end-ring 116.

All these annular members, except the thin-walled spacing member 11S, are drilled as at 117, 110, 119, for the passage of the bolts which make them integral to one assembly, the spacing member being held in position, between elements 113 and 116 by the pressure exerted by means of the bolts 110.

The mounting of this assembly is carried out so that the adjustable discs 108, 109, can be rotated with a slight friction, while the whole assembly can not rotate with respect to the casing.

A fifth spacing ring (Fig. l), filling up the free space in the casing 101, is inserted between this assembly and the rotatable scale disc 104, which is maintained by the inwardly projecting flange 121 of the casing on which is fixed an index 104A. A ball 104 urged by a spring 104" and cooperating with recesses provided in the inner face of the scale disc 104 keeps said scale disc in each of its adjusted positions. The recesses are spaced recesses circumferentially arranged on the rear face of the scale disc 104 and correspond in number to the scale markings on the front face of the scale disc 104.

As shown in Figure 2, both of the adjustable discs 108 and 109 bear at their respective peripheries holes 122, 123, the hole 123 provided in the large disc 109 being located outside of the peripheral surface of the small disc 108; a driving disc 124 is slidably mounted on the bolts 110; between the inwardly extending flange 114 and the large end-ring 116. The disc 124 is urged away from the adjustable discs 108, 109 by means of a spring 125 bearing on the bottom of the channel-shaped retaining element 113. The said disc 124 is provided with two projections, preferably in the form of axially extending longitudinal lingers 126, 127 extending towards and terminating at the same relative distance from each of the adjustable discs 10S, 109. Finger or rod 126 is shorter than finger or rod 127 and its distance to the axis of the housing 101 is equal to the distance of the hole 122 from said axis, while the distance of the rod 127 to the axis of the housing 101 is equal to the distance of the hole 123 from said axis.

The operating rod 106 of the key is guided all through the housing 101, in a tube 128, intergral with the scale disc 104 and provided with three longitudinal slots 129 in which slide, on the one hand, at the rear, the radial rib 107 integral with the operating rod 106 and cooperating with the discs 103, 109 and, on the other hand, towards the front, a group of three radial thrust arms 130, also integral with the operating rod 106 and capable of engaging the driving disc 124; by this arrangement, the scale disc 104 is always in rotatable engagement with the operating rod 106.

Preferably, the adjustable disc, denoted above by the general reference 109, consists, as shown in Figure 4, 6 and 7, of a ring 133 mounted on a disc 131 provided with a central hole 132 for the passage of the tube 128 integral with the scale disc, the hole 123 which is capable of receiving the rod 127 being provided on the ring 133.

The. ring 133 is adjustable angularly withI respect lto the disc 131 and is capable of being xed in any position of adjustment by means of a screw 134 accessible through radial holes 134" provided in the housing-.101 and in the retaining elementv 111. Adjustmentof the ring 133, which is possible` before lodging` the device in` the thickness of a door, or at any desired time, by removing the device from the door, brings the holez123 in aposition which corresponds to the chosen combination, in relation to a radial notch or way 135 of the central'hole 132, which is provided for the passage of the vrib 107 onv the operating rod 106. To facilitate the engagement of the rib in the notch 135, the front face of the disc 131 comprises an arcuate guideway 136 merging into the notch 135. At the rear face the disc 133 is provided an inverse slope 137 facilitating thef engagement by an inverse rotation, when the operating rod'106 is moved towards the scale disc.

Similarly the small disc above denoted by the general reference 108 is also made (see Figure 5) of two adjustable elements, i. e., a ring 133 adjustably mounted on a disc 131 provided with a central hole 132 having a radial notch 135'. The hole 122, with which cooperates the rod 126, is provided in the ring 133 which is a settable in radial adjusted position by the screw 134.

The working of this combination device is as follows:

When at rest, as in Figures land 2, the radial rib 107 of the operating rod 106 engages the notch or way 135. The operating rod is then rotated to bring in front of the index 104A iixed to the housing, the numeral of the dial corresponding to the first numeral of the chosen combination: on account of the initial adjustment of the ring 133', the hole 122 provided in said ring is thus brought opposite the longitudinal finger 126 iixed on the slidable disc 124. The operating rod is then pushed towards the disc 131 and is rotated clockwise until the rib 107 engages the notch 135 of this disc. AV groove 106 on the operating rod and cooperating withv a ball 106 urged against the rod 106 by means of a spring disposed in a radial hole provided in the scale disc 104 (Figure 2), facilitates the pushing in of the operating rod to the required depth, and a second groove 106'" corresponds to the complete insertion of theV operating rod 106 to the depth required so that there is the insertion of the hook-shaped end 106A of the operating rod 106 in the latch. By bringing, after insertion of the rib 107 in the notch 135, the second numeral of the dial corresponding to the selected combination, in front of the index 104A, the hole V123 of the ring 133 is brought opposite the longitudinal nger 127 of the sliding disc 124. The way towards the' latch is free: yby pushing the operating lrod 106 inwardly, the sliding ydisc 124 is pushed by the arms 130 and the rods 126, 127 of the disc 124 pass through the holes 122, 123 respectively, whereas the rib 107 transverses the notch 135 and hooked end 106A engages the latch which is operated by rotating the operating rod 106.

For closingthe lock, the operating rod 106l is rotated`for disengaging the hook 106A from the latch and when the hooked end 106A is removed from the housing 103', theV operating rod 106 will be rotated counterclockwise until its rib 107 engages the notch 135 in the disc 131.

Duringthis vmotion,the spring 125 pushes back the sliding disc 124`and removes the rods 126, 127, from theirrespective holes 122, 123 while the rib 107 remains inthe-notch 135. By rotating the operating rod, the disc 131 can be brought into any desired position, in -which thehole. 123fvisi.out.of alignment with the rod V127.y .'Afterwardspthe.` operating rod 106 is drawn outfwardly untilV the-ribentersvthe notch 135' and-is lthere- -upon rotatedydriving -the'disc 131-and the ring into any v desired position in-vwhich-ithe-'hole -122 is out of alignnient-@withfl-tlie--rod126.. ln vt11is^state, the combination device is ready to be operated again .nonlyby ampers'on knowing the combination.

This combination device offers a very great reliability, because it is impossible to any one who does not know the chosen combination to iind it out tentatively, that is by merely feeling or hearing the rotation of the rotatable elements; this derives from the fact thatnit isimpossible to impart a rotation k to one of the discs 108, l109 by means of the rib 107 of the operating rod 106, and simultaneously to `push theV disc124 by means of the radial arms of said operating rod 106, so that its lingers 126, 127 slide respectively on the faces of said discs 108, .109;` such an helicoidal movement oftheroperating rod 106 cannot succeed for instance because the length of the shorter finger 126 isv smaller than the axial spacing of the rib 107 and the arms 130, as visible on Figure 2; respectively, when the insertion of the operatingrod 106 in thel casing 101-is such.. as vto allow a rotation of one of the discs 108," 109, .the arms 130 are then'ltoo remote from the disc 124 to push-its fingers 126, 127 towards said discs y108, 109, and,.conversely, when the operating rod 106 is inserted moreinwardlyvso that said arms 130 are allowedv to push lthedisc..124, the rib 107.engages no longer the discs .108, 109.

To increase the uncertainty of such a fraudulenttentative,-the thrust-arms 130 are preferablyiitted with a smalldamping cushion 130', made of felt for instance, which prevents ascertaining the unknown combination merely by feeling or hearing,

What I claim is:

1. A permutation device for operating the latch ofV a lock, comprising, in combination, a housing, a centrally apertured front cover rotatably inserted in the front end of the housing, a longitudinal tube fixed to said cover, on the inner face thereof and extending throughout the housing, longitudinal slots in said tube, an operating rod slidably engaged in the longitudinal tube, the said operating rod having its front end projecting in front of the cover and having at its inner end an axial'extension engageable with the latch, radial extensions fixed onrthe operating rod and projecting into the housing through the slots, a radial rib on the operating rod projecting-into the housing -through one of these slots, the said rib being axially spaced from the radial extensions, anon-rotatable disc mounted for sliding movement on the. said tube,

Vintermediate the radial extensions and the radial rib, a

series of axial iingers lixed on the slidable disc at vdiierent distances from the axis of Vthe housingl and. projecting towards the latch, a series of discs independentfrom-each other, rotatably disposed in the housing and freely engaged over the tube in front of the endsof the iingers, each of said discs corresponding to a given nger and-including an aperture equally distant frointhe axis .of the housing as its corresponding nger-and away fartherv radial irib, whereby free passage is obtained fortheaxial lingers after all-the discs have been properly rotated by -successively introducing the rib in the way of each disc Vand rotation thereof to bring the aperture therein-into alignment with its corresponding axial extension.

2. A permutation device according to claim l in which each of 4the .discs yfreely engagedsoverthe tube and yrotatably disposedv in the` housing isrnade vof central hubportion including the way for therradial rib and of a peripheric ring mounted on said hub portion, the ring being angularly adjustable with respect to the hub portion vand being provided with the aperture 4for the passage of the linger-corresponding to said disc. i A I i 3. A permutation device according to claim 2 in which each of the central hub portions Vincluding the way for the radial rib on thek operating rod, comprises on each of its faces an arcuate guideway merging intonthefmsaid way, whereby engagement of the rib `is facilitated therein.

4. A `permutation device for operating the latch YofY @a lock, comprising, in combination, `a housing, a centrally apertured front cover rotatably inserted in the Afront end of the housing, a longitudinal tube fixed to said cover on the inner face thereof and extending throughout the housing, longiutdinal slots in said tube, an operating rod slidably engaged in the longitudinal tube, the said operating rod having its front end projecting in front of the cover, and having at its inner end an axial extension engageable with the latch, radial extensions xed on the operating rod and projecting into the housing through the slots, a radial rib on the operating rod projecting into the housing through one of these slots, the said rib being axially spaced from the radial extensions, a series of discs independent from each other, rotatably disposed in the housing and freely engaged over the tube` each of said discs being provided with a way for the radial rib and with an aper ture, the distance of said apertures from the axis of the housing being different, a non-rotatable disc :mounted for sliding movement on the said tube, intermediate the radial extensions and the radial rib, a series of axial fingers, each being fixed on the slidable disc so as to be equally distant from the axes of the housing as the aperture of one of 20 said rotatable discs and having such a length as to keep clear of said rotatable disc when the radial rib is engaged in the way of said rotatable disc, whereby free passage is obtained for the axial fingers only after all the discs have been properly rotated by successively introducing the rib in the Way of each rotatable disc, and rotation thereof to bring the aperture therein into alignment with its corresponding axial nger.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 92,844 Lamb July 20, 1869 125,475 Moiet Apr. 9, 1872 844,448 Gaylor Feb. 19, 1907 1,156,659 Benharn Oct. 12, 1915 1,434,787 Mauldin Nov. 7, 1922 1,600,157 Wildrick Sept. 14, 1926 1,816,575 Full July 28, 1931 1,853,243 Thor Apr. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 66,180 France Feb. 20, 1956 

